Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-12
DISAPPROvED.
THE pEEsIDExT vgToEs TIE Depend.
EHr PEEsIoE BILL.
His Beasons for So Doing-The Bill! Uncer-
tain and Liable to Conflicting construe-
tions-He shows It's Antiquities.
ny telegraph TO the Dispatch. ]

lator for support, is long document,
embracing over 1900 words.
Tho President says this f. the frs; general
hin mat has been sanctioned by Congress since
tle ccso Of the late civil war permitting
IcnflCn 10 soldiers and nailors who served In
hat war upon the ground Of service aud pre-
crt disability alouo, and in tho entire aJ5enco
Il afy injuries received ~ casualties or inci-
iCu,eM such service. Several precedenl5 ipf
j exist, however,, iu oar loglsialOni WHOA az
III operative md which he ciios. Tho present
did embraces all who ere bonohc.eric5 Of H4Hi-
ar precedent legislation. Tho Presdcn! pro-
ceDGs:
ca Tho let day Of July, 1893, 2s5 763 pension
crs Of an clGeses were upon The lensi0u-roH'.
of whom 2O5.C05 were survivor Of - var Of
mo rebellion and their widows az ! depenI-
cnts. Tor the year onding juno - lso'' 500
10000 have been appropriated for the pay
% a. OF pensions, and the amount eGpeniel
for that purpose from 1851 % July J, 1885, IL
sSl9.fgfs11.51. While annually paying out
such q vast sum for pensions already granted.
r. IN now prOpOs cd by tho bill under consideta-
lion Ia award service pensions 10 soldiers OF oil
wars in which the United States has been en-
gagged including, Of course, the war OF the re-
lo,JioU. and 10 pay those entitled 10 the
bcuChts Of the oct tho sum CT twelve
dollars per month. So fnr a. y Jeia"'
% Tho soldiers OF the late civil war
tho bounty Il affords them f. giKn thirteen
years earlier than IL has been furnished TO
eoldieis Of any other war and before large
majority u It's benehciaries havo advanced IN
age beyond the strength and yigOr Of the prime
~ lifc II czac;s only military or naval service
~ three months without any requisment Of
actual engagement with the enemy in battle
and without subsection 10 any 81 the aetuel
dangers Of war. The pension II aWarls ~
allowed 10 enlisted men who have not suffered
the least injury, liability, lO's, or damage OF
fny Kind. incurred in or any degree reierahle
NJ ihcir military seryicc including those VINO
never reached the front at all and those dis
charged from rendezvous at the close OF TIE
war. If discharged thrCe months after ea19s-
ncnt Under the last call Of the President for
lrcopS in December, 1864, 1893 men were
furnished who were thus discharged. Inc
lection allowing this pension docs, however,
require, beside service OF three months ana
on honorable discharge. that those seeking the
Lencnt OF the act shall be such as are now, or
may hereafter be, suffering from mental or
physical disability not the result OF their own
vicious habits or gross carelossnese, which III
cnracitaics them for the performance Of labor
in such degree "a 10 render them unable 10
earn o support and who are dependent upon
heir daily labor for support. IL provides tur-
her that such persons shall, upon making
roof Of this fact, be placed on tho list OF IN
valid peusiOnors II the United States, and be
entitled 10 receive for such total inability 20
procure their subsistence by daily labor twelve
dollars per month, nad such pension snail
commence from the date Of tho 1ling OF tho
application In the Pension ONCE upon proof
that the disability thCn existed and continuei
during the existence OF same In tho degree
herein provided; provided, that persons VINO
arc now receiving pensions under eAisung
lRWF, or whose claims are pending IN the ron
sion Ofice may. by Application 70 the CoinmiS-
sionerof Pensions, I'm such form as he may pre-
sctite, receive the bcnoht OF this act.
II is maIifestly Of the utmostimporancot that
sfatutes. which, Ike pension laws, should be
literally administered rs measures Of bcneyo-
ir.cc IN behalf Of worthy boneilciarcs, should
loffit Of 40 uncertainty rs 10 their gen
inl objects and consequences. Upon
oful consideration Of the language o.
lie section OF this hlll above given
tfcems 10 me TO bo 10 uncertain and liable
fosuch conflicting constructions and "a pe sub
'ect 10 such unjust anl mischiorous applica-
lion ~ % alone furnish sufficient ground Tor
'isHIprOying the proposed legislation
Aitcr some space devoted 10 q close araiy rs
4 irr ami Equities Of the hill and its opp0rtu
rif,s for unfairncss unjust discrimination.
and partisan partially in It's administration
nd pointing out the differences Of opinion
20 its ss.Ole held by members Of Congress who
-cfcd mon IT, the President says: / am Of
opinion That Il may fairly DO coufondoi that
Ider the provisions 81 ms section any -olllci
vi o-c faculties Of mind or body have become I'M
unirCd by accident, disease, or age, lrrcspec-
i've Of his service IN the army "a the
cause, and who by his labor only u
left incapable Of gaining The lar support
Ne might 10y unimpaircd power have provided
| for himself and who is not 80 VOL cndOWoi
with this worlds goods a. 10 live without work,
may claim 10 participate in It's bounty that II
is rot required he should be without property.
bat only that labor should De necessary to his
support in some degree, nor Is u required
| hat he should be now receiving support from
| others.
| believing this 20 be q proper interpreta-
| tion Of the bill caunOt but remember that the
soldiers of ne civil war, In their pay aud bounty
! received such compensation FOR military ser
! vice ~ has never been received by soldiers BE-
/ To- f.eao
| never before on behalf OF any soldier
| have 20 many and such generous law
| necn prssod to relieve them against the iSci
| dents Of war: that statutes have been passed
| Giving them preference in all public employ
| mcuts: that the really needy ana homeless
| Union soldiers 81 the rebellion have been 20 q
| large extent provided for nj soldiers hoine7
| Instituted and supported by the Government
| where they are maintained together, iree non
| the sense Of the degradation which alta hr' r
/ lie usual support Of charity, and thHt neyel
before "a tho history Of this country hs. ii beer
| proposed 10 render Government aid toward !i.
| support If any Of its soldiers based alone u"Of
| military service 50 recent, and where the AZ
! and circumstances appeared 80 hLuo % de
| manl such aid. Hitherto such relief ms peer
! granted ~ surviving soldiers. few III nuinDNT
/ venerable IN age, after long lapse OF uh'
| eirc. ttCir military service, ana Is parting
| lo,, action rendered by a grateful people.
| .a.lli relieye that the vast peaceful army oi
| Union soldiers who having r0ntentodly re-
| -uupd their places in the ordinary nYC.aiioh-
| of life cherish ~ Gacr5d the memory OF pa
! riotc service or who having been disabled 10y
| cssualtics Of war. Justly r.gam tho present
| peusion-roll, on which appear their names a. q
! rtll 81 honor, desire az his umh ana ia pi.'
| eorn! Present cXigohcy TO b" coniOlhded " ,lr
| hose WHO through such q bin "a this are VIII
| ing 20 be objects Of simple charity and 20 Gait
| a place upon the pcnsiOn-roll through alleged
| dCpeudencc. Recent personal Observation
! ard experience constrain me - relol
| 10 auolhcr result which viii inoitahiS
| follow tho passag0 u this bill. II "a Sal, on
! noverthclels true, tnat already il ihe matter
| of pCcuniary pensions there cAl7l7 wa"
| spvead disregard Of truth and good faiih
| stimulated by those who. as agents. uniertk'
| 10 establish claims for pensions hcc1le7Hly Gu
| tered mon by the cNDec,aGt beneficiary, ant
| encouraged, or, at least not eohdeihh'l ps
| those unwilling TO obstruct nelghDofh plan
| IN execution Of this proposed law, under an!
| INTERPRETATION wide field OF inquiry WOul1 ~
| ~ orcd for the establishment OF facts largol!
! within the knowledge Of claimants alone ah'
| hero can be 10 doubt that the race a1tef pen
| siCus offered by his bill W0ull not only silhu
| lac weakness aud pretended incaiaciy 10
labor but pat further premium on dishohos'.
| mo CHAIRMAN Of tho House Committee OF
| Pensions calculates mat the number oi pen
| -ioncrs under this bill would BE- J3 100, ana I'D
| crease the annual cost A,'oll'O ms - uPoi
| the theory that only those who are thtlrolf IN
| 7iie 10 work would be its bcneiCiarlos. h
PRECEDENT presents n few striking stati'iic
Illustrating how completely a. fault have heei
| rreyjous advance estimates OF the pfuuaDi
effect Of pension legislation, and goes on q
saw. II none should be pousionei IN
| der This bill except those utterly un
| able TO work, / am satisfied that IN
| cost stated in the estimate referred 10 "ould ID
many times multiplied and with constant ~
| crease from year 20 year. and II those pATtian
upnble to earn their support should bs almi'
ted 10 the privileges OF this BIZ the probable N
| e.rCgse Of expense would De almost appaiAus
| / mink il may be said that az the close OF IN
war Of tho rebellion every northern S'a,e au
q great majority Of northern counties anu clue
were burdened with taxation on account
| large bouniies paid our soldiers, ana tho Dohd
| ed debt thereby created still constitutes lafg
| item In tho account of tie tax-Rathofe
| against the people. Federal taxation, n
| loss borne by tho people than th6s q
| rectly levied upon their property, Is 5ti
| maintained al a rae made necessary ~ IN
| exigepcies OF war II this bill should becom
| law. with It's tremendous addition 70 our pre-
| tious obligations | am thoroughly c0nyinc3
| fhat further eforis to reduce The Federal rev,
| nue. and restore some part OF II 10 our poop
| will and perhaps should. be SERIOUSLY qur,
| tened IL has constantly been caufo oi pro
| and cOngratulatiOn to the American citl1e
tLat his country Is not put 10 TIE charge
maintaining large standing army
! time of peace; yet we arc now hNiI
undcr z wsr-tax which has been tolerated
ueaceful times 20 meet Obligations INQUIRE
In war. But for years past IN all par % ',
| country the demand FOR reduction OF "
burdens Of taxation upon our laD0f anu w
| duction has increased IN volume ana urbohC
| I am not willing 10 approve a measure pr